Student Financial Services

The Office of Student Financial Services offers financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Financial aid awarded through the office may be gift aid, which includes grants and scholarships, or self-help aid, which includes student employment programs and long-term loans. Most financial aid is based on documented financial need. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending the University and the financial resources available to the student.

To apply for financial assistance, a student must complete a need analysis form each year. The office requires the student to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be evaluated for financial need. The need analysis assists the office in assessing available family resources and determining eligibility for specific aid programs.

Students who attend the University only in the summer session are not eligible for financial aid through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Estimated costs. The following are estimated typical costs for tuition, fees, room, board, and books for a new single student living in University-owned housing for the long session (fall and spring semesters) 2005-2006. The tuition and fee amounts included in these figures are based on an average course load of fourteen semester hours for undergraduates and nine semester hours for graduate students.

Texas residents

Nonresidents

Undergraduate

$15,457

$23,598

Graduate

$13,730

$19,598

Expenses for clothing, travel, recreation, and personal and miscellaneous items vary based on individual lifestyle. The Office of Student Financial Services estimates that reasonable expense for these items is approximately $3,000 for undergraduate students and $3,470 for graduate students. Summer costs are estimated to be about one-third of those for a long-session semester.

Application dates. Although there are no deadlines for submitting financial aid applications, priority is given to students who apply by the dates given below.

A student may apply for financial aid before being officially admitted to the University, but the awarding of aid is contingent upon admission. Disbursement of funds cannot be made until the student is officially enrolled.

Course load requirements. Most financial aid programs are based on a minimum full-time enrollment of twelve hours for undergraduate students and nine to fifteen hours for graduate students, depending on the student's academic program. Students may receive financial aid for less than full-time enrollment with the approval of their financial aid counselor. Some aid programs require that assistance be reduced proportionately for less than full-time enrollment. To receive financial assistance for the summer session, students must enroll for classes in both six-week terms, the nine-week term, or the twelve-week term.

Changes in financial circumstances. Students are responsible for reporting to the Office of Student Financial Services any change in their financial situation that occurs after the initial application for aid is submitted. A documented decrease in resources may provide for an increase in financial aid if funds are available; an increase in resources may result in a reduction or cancellation of financial aid funds or a requirement to repay awards already released to the student.

Satisfactory progress. To be eligible for financial assistance, a student must maintain a satisfactory academic record. A satisfactory academic record is measured by quality, progress, and quantity. The quality measurement requires undergraduates to maintain a grade point average of 2.00 and graduate students to maintain a grade point average of 3.00. Progress means completing the appropriate number of hours for the semester, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services; for example, an undergraduate must usually enroll in and complete twelve hours a semester. The quantity measurement allows a maximum of 150 hours for an undergraduate degree (175 hours for majors in pharmacy and architecture) and between 40 and 160 hours for a graduate degree, depending on the program.

Types of Financial Aid

A student who submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is considered for all federal, state, and institutional funds available at the University that are administered by the Office of Student Financial Services. A student's award package usually is a combination of gift aid and self-help aid. The composition of the aid package depends on the characteristics of the student, including program eligibility and degree of financial need, as well as on the availability of funds.

Gift Aid

Students who apply for financial help by the priority deadline are considered for all gift aid awards administered through the Office of Student Financial Services. To be considered for a Federal Pell Grant, a student must be an undergraduate and must not have received a bachelor's degree. Most scholarships and grants awarded through the FAFSA process are based on financial need. The office also administers some programs based on merit.

In addition to specific qualifications for competitive undergraduate scholarships and fellowships awarded by the University, the committee or agency responsible for selecting recipients for a given scholarship or fellowship may consider such factors as the following in designating recipients:

Federal loan programs are available to assist students who show financial need. These programs have low interest rates that may be adjusted annually and do not require repayment of principle or interest until the student has graduated or is no longer enrolled at least half-time. In addition, the loans offer a grace period between the time the student leaves school and the time repayment begins. Deferment or cancellation of repayment is available for situations such as military service, periods of unemployment, or teaching service in designated schools.

Federal and state loans are also available both to students and to the parents of students who do not show financial need. Interest rates on these loans are variable and are adjusted annually. Under certain conditions, repayment of these loans may be deferred while the student is enrolled in school.

Employment

The student employment program provides jobs for students who show financial need and want to earn part of their educational expenses while attending school. The majority of federal
work-study jobs are on campus, though some may be with off-campus nonprofit agencies. Depending on their education and experience, students may choose from a variety of employment opportunities. Most jobs require fifteen or fewer hours of work a week.